NHA yet to decide if Zambo ‘bakwits’ will be given free housing

ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews/11 July) – The National Housing Authority (NHA) has yet to decide whether or not it will give for free to the evacuees the housing units they are building in this city.

The NHA has started building the housing units for residents of barangays Kasanyangan, Mariki, Rio Hondo, Sta. Catalina, Sta. Barbara and Taluksangay who were displaced in the standoff last year between government forces and members of the Moro National Liberation front loyal to founding chair Nur Misuari.

NHA District Manager Al-Khwarizmi Indanan said there is no announcement yet from their central office whether the houses will be given for free or amortized at minimal amount by the displaced families.

Indanan noted the houses constructed by the agency for the victims of typhoons Pablo and Sendong were either given to the displaced families as a grant or paid P1 by them.

“When it comes to Zamboanga City, there is no decision yet but looking at the signal we have been receiving and looking at the signs, it is either a grant or P1.00 payment per experience of NHA.” he said.

The NHA is building a total of 5,587 houses–3,498 houses on stilts and 2,089 land-based houses.